You know how sometimes you hear the phrase: “The devil is in the details”?
It’s so true, it isn’t funny.
What you wear, is really important — not that it’s necessarily the right outfit, super fashion forward or polished, but that you have addressed a certain level of cohesiveness.
Case in point #1
I saw a woman walk into the cafeteria the other day. She was well dressed in a grey tweed skirt suit, nice top, black tights and her hair done well.
My eyes glance down to her feet, and she’s wearing HIKING BOOTS with the outfit.
Like these:
CreditNow, I am not trying to say women should pinch their feet into 3″ stilettos for the sake of an outfit or for image, but let’s face it — we judge, and she ruined the look.
If you are going to wear everything perfectly, and then ruin it with a pair of hiking boots, that’s where I draw the line.
If she had just picked a pair of ballet flats or shoes that fit more in line with her chic, downtown look, you wouldn’t be listening to how a pair of shoes ruined the entire image for me.
Case in point #2
Another woman was dressed in a suit (albeit an outdated one), and when I happened to turn and face her while she was turned on her side, I noticed a huge, gaping rip in the jacket.
It wasn’t just a little tear.
Or a little piece of thread sticking out.
It was a GAPING HOLE where I could see the inside lining of the jacket and the overly stuffed shoulder pads.
I mean, REALLY.
I am not the Fashion Police, but for goodness sake, why would you go through all that trouble of doing everything right, only to put on an element that throws the whole look off?
Or to not bother repairing a gaping hole in your jacket? Just wear a sweater instead!
It’s like a guy coming to work with a coffee stain all over his white shirt. “Bah, it’s still a clean shirt, right? The smell of coffee enhances my natural scent.”
Pay attention to the details.
- Cover your butt and crotch when you wear leggings
- Don’t wear clothing that is ripped, torn or shredded
- Don’t go through the trouble of looking professional, only to ruin it with the shoes
- Don’t wear clothing with stains on it
You just never know who you’re going to meet. Like your boss. Or an important client. You might be able to laugh it off and they MAY not care, but you could be really embarrassed if they kindly point it out.
I’ve met people I’ve gone to business school with all the time, when it is least expected. Not to mention exes as well…. 😛
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year.
Now I am self-employed, and you can read more about 
I agree with everything you said. Also, one of my biggest pet peeves is guys who wear jean pants to a wedding. There’s always at least one guy who thinks he can get away with it if he wears a fancy shirt. Pfft, please… Sticks out like a sore thumb.
I understand that some people have problems with their feet, but it’d be a lie to say that women won’t notice a lady in a fancy dress wearing hiking boots. Let’s be realistic here. On the positive, this had made me realize why a woman might be doing such a thing and I’ll definitely be thinking about it the next time I come across this.
You are absolutely right. 100000%. Also, leggings are not a replacement for pants. Ever. I’m pregnant and I want to scream at my fellow preggo ladies who wear see-through shirts. You don’t want to see my baby belly and I sure as hell don’t want to see yours.
Amen!
I am dealing with plantar Faciatiis and am in pain all the time. As a result, I can only wear my Columbia flip flops without screaming in pain. I try to dress work appropriate but have to wear these shoes until I feel better. I also found that judgment to be rather harsh since I am so self conscious right now.
Whoops, meant to reply to Flippingmackerel RE: the “I agree with this”.
I have to agree with this. I keep a pair of fancy grey suede heels under my desk to wear at work, but have sneakers for my commute and lunchtime walks. I don’t currently have medical concerns, but I’m certainly not going to GIVE myself medical concerns by wearing heels for eighty minutes of walking each day (thirty five minutes there and back, and a lunchtime walk). I’m also not going to wear flats for the walk because they simply aren’t good for your feet the way sneakers are.
*shrug* So FB and others can judge as they want, but I and others aren’t going to risk our health by wearing shoes that are proven to be bad for general physical health and wellbeing when there’s no need to.
agree agree! there are so many people who take the tube and wear runners with their suits. gah! it’s just wrong! there was this lady who wore socks over her tights with runners! yes what’s wrong with a pair of flats?
I totally agree with you – and was exactly the same. However, then I got the short end of the stick. Now, to skip all the story, I have no choice but to wear hideous (and I do mean hideous) shoes that are sneaker-like because of the medical condition that screwed my feet over (yes, I’m still not happy with it :P).
Sometimes, it’s not because they want to be wearing them.
I still long to have Louboutins, but this time they will have to stare at me from my wall.
For like, two MONTHS last spring I wore a trench coat with a massive hole in the side (like…the size of my hand…I’m not proud) because I never got around to patching it or buying a new one, and I was kind of strapped for cash. I covered it up by carrying a tote bag with me almost all the time. Not my finest moment. I like to tell myself no one noticed because of the tote bag, but I don’t know if that’s true.
Another time I got a hole in a blouse in the middle of the work day, and I actually walked to the store to buy a needle and thread and fixed it right then and there. My priorities are all out of whack.
Thank you for bringing up the leggings. I Ladies please for the love of all that is good cover up your crotch when you wear leggings!!!
I could not agree more!
Amen!
I agree. I dripped pesto sauce / olive oil all over my blouse while I was lunch yesterday and I had to go buy another shirt because I was going to an interview right after work. There’s no way I am going to wear a stained blouse to an interview! (I wrote I need to attend a dinner party because I didn’t want to jinx it and say that I am going to an interview but end up not getting the job) heh!
Perfect post for me today. It was cold out so I threw a zip up hoodie over my business outfit and then realized it was the monthly all staff meeting this morning at work. 🙁 Similarly, my boyfriend works with a guy who wore a suit to their mountain retreat team building exercise and everyone made fun of him and he just smiled and said, “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.” Made me like him.
Perfect post for me today.
Did you ever stop to consider that the woman wearing hiking boots was required to wear them because of a medical concern like bad ankles, or maybe she had walked a long distance to the cafeteria and had a perfect pair of pretty shoes at her desk?
You come across as very quick to judge here.